The Waste Management Company of the City of Johannesburg, Pikitup welcomes the City’s call to the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) to resume engagement with Pikitup to ensure that the terms set out in the Politically Facilitated Agreement are carried out.

MMC Matshidiso Mfikoe has also reiterated that the City is also committed to ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and compensated accordingly. However, this can only happen in a normal environment wherein workers are back at work so as to afford the mandated parties the opportunity to reach an amicable agreement.

Pikitup has indicated it is ready to welcome employees should they want to return to work on Tuesday 29th March 2016. The return of employees would serve to give further impetus to the recovery plan that is being implemented by the waste entity.

Tuesday, 29 March 2016 sees the start of the disciplinary hearing in respect of Pikitup employees who have ignored the two court interdicts obtained by Pikitup and ultimatums issued to workers. Charges have also been levelled at those who have provoked the illegal strike and individuals who have been responsible for intimidation. The hearing is scheduled to last three days.

Over the past days of the Easter period, Pikitup management and contingency teams have been hard at work clearing backlogs around the City. The affected areas are being reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure cleanliness is restored to optimum levels.

Pikitup has urged community members and business owners to collaborate with the company by continuing to drop off waste at the nearest Pikitup garden refuse or landfill sites. While Pikitup expresses its gratitude for individuals who have taken it upon themselves to provide a service to residents to collect waste for a fee, residents are requested to ensure that the waste is being disposed of at Pikitup approved collection points, garden refuse sites or landfill sites, since in some instances the individuals providing this service are dumping the collected waste illegally.

Community members are increasingly heeding the call and over the Easter season, various community-led clean-up initiatives have been taken place throughout the City’s regions. Joining this collective effort to restore the dignity of the City of Johannesburg, Pikitup has deployed contingency teams to assist communities with further clean-ups taking place today in various areas. Among the areas being cleaned today include Kathrada Park, Claremont, Alexandra and Klipfontein in Midrand.

Communities across City are urged to call the City’s 24 hour hotline 011 286 6009, to request cleaning tools, gloves and bags for community-led clean-ups and the removal of bagged waste by Pikitup.

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ISSUED BY: PIKITUP, THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG’S WASTE MANAGEMENT ENTITY